[…] the focal information in a linguistic expression pertains to the difference between PS [Pragmatic information of Speaker] and (PA[Pragmatic information of Addressee])S, and the focal information is thus presented as being “new” to A. However, the information focused on is not always completely new to A. It may include information already (assumed to be) available to A, but focused on by virtue of some implicit or explicit contrast.
- Dik (1989), a pag.278